Determination of biotin in low-temperature fish-meal processed from different species by means of a microbiological method using Lactobacillus plantarum as test organism

Determination of biotin content in 10 fish-meals produced from different sp ecies was performed by a microbiological assay using Lactobacillus plantaru m as test organism. The contents of biotin in the fish-meal samples ranged between 0.36 and 0.80 mgkg(-1). Most of the fish-meals contained approximat ely 0.4 mg biotin kg(-1), The highest value was found in meal processed fro m sand eel (Ammodytes marinus). The precision of the assay showed a 2.7% re lative standard deviation. Recovery using addition of biotin to the fish-me al ranged between 93 and 95%, Testing of extraction procedure suggested tha t hydrolysis In 1.5 M H2SO4 at 121 degrees C for 3 h is sufficient for biot in to be liberated from proteins and amino acids, (C) 1999 Society of Chemi cal Industry.